A1 Foundation Crack Repair Blog

In today’s housing market, you may come across a home that is priced well below market value. Often this is because of some type of damage or deficiency.  More often than not, this involves a flooded basement.  

If you are considering a home with a finished basement that has flooded, keep in mind that this can be very costly to repair and there a some issues to consider. Obviously, finished basements with water damage can be ripe with mold and mildew. This can cause severe problems that you need to think about before buying the home.

Finished basements often have wood or metal framed walls built inside the foundation walls or attached to the concrete in order to install the finish wall board.  These cavities are very susceptible to water damage; they will get flooded easily and are difficult to dry out.  Most of the time, the wallboard and insulation need to be removed in order to dry the area properly. Otherwise, mold and mildew growth will occur.

The floors in finished basements can be concrete, or they may have a sub floor built over the concrete floor. These sub floors are often wood.  This type of flooring is a problem in the event the basement floods.  Water can be trapped between the sub floor and the concrete and it is very difficult to dry out.  Again, most of the time, a sub floor needs to be removed and the area needs to be dried out completely to because of the high risk of mold and mildew damage.

Mold and mildew growth is a risk, to your home and your health.  There are many health problems which mold and milder exacerbate such as respiratory problems, immune system suppression, asthma infections and coughing.

If you are considering the purchase of a home that has had a flooded basement, expect to invest quite a bit of money into restoring and replacing the affected area.  Once that is done, the problem of stopping the water from entering  the basement needs to be addressed.

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If your basement has a sump pump, really it is only a matter of time before a failure occurs. There are many different sizes of sump pumps and getting the right size for your home will go a long way to having your sump pump last.

The goal is to shop for the best value by obtaining a pump with maximum features for your money. The physical size of your pump may depend on the size of your sump pit.  An 18” diameter pit will allow enough clearance for most pumps.  Be sure to measure the width and depth of your sump pit before you make a purchase.  Consider the location of the float switch as well.  If your pump is not deep enough, the float switch will not work properly.

No matter what size sump pump you are considering, pay attention to the materials with which it is made.  The housing is the most important part and so the material is important, it will have a direct bearing on the life span of the pump.  Most often, pumps are made from plastic, cast iron, cast bronze or stainless steel.  Plastic pumps are lighter weight and more susceptible to damage and wear and tear than metal.  Cast iron, bronze and stainless steel will offer the best in longevity, but with an increase in cost.

There are various styles of float switches used for sump pumps.  Float pumps can become blocked by objects in tight quarters or by debris, so make sure you have enough clearance for the pump to move freely within the sump pit liner.

If you are just tired of wet basements and sump pumps, and worrying about if they are running or not, call A1 Foundation Crack Repair.

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It has been very hot around here with no rain in sight really, so wet basements probably have not been on your mind. But with this humidity you could still have trouble in your basement.

Hot and humid weather just increases the humidity and moisture in your basement. High humidity can lead to mold and mildew growth. Depending on the severity, conditions can lead to rot, structural damage, premature paint problems, and health problems.

High indoor humidity caused by normal activities of everyday living, such as showering, cooking, and drying clothes, can also be a source of your problem. A damp basement is commonly caused by moisture migrating through a concrete foundation. There may not be a sign of any leak or standing water, but the moisture evaporates, increasing indoor humidity. Another common cause is condensation on the cold concrete walls and floors during humid months.

There are only two possible ways to eliminate condensation: heat the air or pull the moisture out of it. Obviously heating your basement to match the outside temperature is counterproductive, so the only real option is to dehumidify.

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No one enjoys a flooded basement. It is one of the worst problems for homeowners to face. Regardless of if your house gets water regularly or if it happens once a year, there is never a good time for water in the basement. To prevent basement flooding you need to understand why it is happening in order to properly fix the problem and to prevent it from reoccurring.

Sometimes basement flooding is caused by a water main break or really severe, and uncommon weather. In these instances, maybe you will never again have water in your home. However, most of the time basement water is recurring and those who have it, have it often. There is a way to fix this.

If your home is located on a sloped piece of land then there is a very good chance that water on the property will drain towards you. Obviously this could result in water damage to your home.

Many times water damage will be a result of problems with your plumbing, or pipe penetration leaks in the foundation. Again, these are problems that can be avoided in the future. You should check the plumbing to ensure that there are no signs of leaks and be sure that the pipe fittings are tight.

Concrete floor cracks and foundation cracks result over time. It is very important to have these repaired correctly and quickly. Ignoring cracks could compromise the integrity of the structure.

Bulkhead leaks are another way that water enters the home. The seal between your home and your bulkhead moves during the winter and needs to be fixed.

Regardless of how the water enters your home, it can be avoided. It is important to have these issues taken care of professionally for the safety and security of your home as well as the ability to sell your home in the future.

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One of the two leading causes of poor indoor air quality is mold growth.

Mold can form and grow on any surface that provides a food source surrounded by moderate temperatures, oxygen and sufficient moisture. The best examples of mold food sources are cellulose-based substances, such as rugs and wood. In today’s hoomes, food sources for mold are readily available in the form of untreated paper-faced gypsum board, wood wall studs and wood-based sheathings as well as furniture.

Once moisture is exposed to the mold food source, long-dormant mold spores can gain a foothold. As long as the food and moisture sources are supplied, the mold colonies will continue to grow and prosper. When mold has spread throughout a basement or home, you may notice unpleasant odors and experience a variety of health problems, such as headaches, breathing difficulties, skin irritation, allergic reactions and aggravation of asthma symptoms.

Here are some methods of airborne contaminant capture and removal:

• Remove particulate matter through filtration
• Manage moisture and humidity by adding dehumidifiers where necessary
• Clean dehumidification systems, including drain pans
• Clean humidifiers, dehumidifiers, and water spray systems
• Employ moisture management strategies in the home's envelope.

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It is summer and the basement is moist. You may not see any water, but if you can smell it and feel it, it is there. You may have a basement water proofing system in place, or perhaps you don’t have water seeping in your foundation from pipes or floor cracks. That’s the good news. The bad is that, this doesn’t necessarily mean that your basement is dry.

Often water enters a basement through capillary action, which wicks moisture through walls and floors. The floor and walls may not leak, but it feels damp to the touch because it wicks the water in to the surface. Water vapor also slowly seeps in through the concrete and raises the humidity. Basements act as chimneys pulling the outside air in the house and letting it out on the upper floors.

Humidity increases and condensation results as the hot outside air meets the cool basement.  Even without condensation basements tend to have high humidity levels and mold grows rapidly, generating that musty basement odor. Dust mites love that high humidity too.

There are only two possible ways to eliminate condensation: heat the air or pull the moisture out of it. Obviously heating your basement to match the outside temperature is counterproductive, so the only real option is to dehumidify.

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Most basements, because they are built into the ground, present the possibility of invasive water, making what was once a dry basement into a wet basement. This is because water in the soil can put constant pressure on basement walls. Also, water follows the path of least resistance and over time can find its way into a basement.

With real estate transactions there are more problems with wet foundations and basements than any other physical problem in a house. Therefore, it's important when buying a house with a basement to check for signs of dampness in the basement. Also, if you want to sell a house, you need to get your basement water problems fixed the right way. As the buyer, the seller may be unaware of the water problems, or they may choose to not disclose the issue.

Signs of a Damp or Wet Basement

• Water stains along walls or floor. This could be caused by something simple such as an overflowing laundry tub or it could be a result of water seeping in through basement windows, the walls or the floor.
• Musty odor or damp smell. Excess moisture in a basement can cause an unmistakable smell.
• Mold. It could be colored black, brown, yellow or green, and you won't know for certain if it's mold without testing it. Often the northwest corner of a house is known as a "cold corner" and susceptible to developing mold.
• Efflorescence. This condition produces a white or sometimes grayish ash on the walls. Sometimes it sparkles. Efflorescence is caused by salt deposits left behind by evaporating water.
• Spalling. When water gets inside the surface of concrete, brick or stone, salt deposits from the water cause the surface to flake away, peel or pop off.

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The purpose of a dehumidifier is to lower the humidity of the air in your home.  Humidity is a measure of the moisture suspended in the air at any given time.  Moisture levels are higher during different seasons.  In Massachusetts, humidity levels are much higher in the summer than in the winter. 

Home dehumidifiers are mostly used to dry air in the basement or crawlspace.  These areas are prone to high humidity levels because they are below ground.  It is not uncommon for the saturated ground outside of foundation walls to cause seeping or leakage through the walls.

The condensation is what allows a home dehumidifier to work. The dehumidifier typically consists of a metal or plastic cabinet that contains a fan, a compressor, metal coils and a collection pan.  There is also a humidistat that allows you to set the level of humidity you desire within a room.

The fan draws air into the unit, and it passes over the coils.  The coils are often set up as a two-stage process.  In the first stage, the coils are very cold.  As the air passes over the cold coils it condenses and collects there.  From here the water drips into the collection pan.  As the air continues on through the unit, it hits the second stage of coils which uses the heat generated by the compressor to re-heat the air and deliver it back in to the room.  

In the meantime, the collection pan fills with water.  The shut off is triggered when the water reaches a certain level.  Sometimes, rather than a collection pan, home dehumidifiers have a fitting that can attach to a hose so that the water can run out of the unit to a drain of your choice.

Understanding the basics of how a home dehumidifier works is important so that you can determine which type of unit to buy for your home.  A high quality, low maintenance unit is the best choice for most homes.  Compare home dehumidifiers carefully before investing in them, this is an important piece of equipment.

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In order to know how to waterproof a basement, you need to know how water enters the basement. There are many different ways water can enter the basement:  floor / wall joint, floor or wall crack, or through the bulkhead, to name a few.

Here we are going to talk about how water enters through the floor/wall joint.

The floor/wall joint is the most common entry source of water entering the basement. This is where the foundation wall meets the floor. The water comes in from the outside over the footing under the foundation wall and through where the foundation wall and floor converge. This is seen mostly when it rains. Water may seep in from other locations, but the most heavy water intrusion will be from the floor/wall joint.

When one concrete structure is poured (the floor) and another concrete structure is poured on it or next to it (the wall), a seam is created between the two concrete structures. Each concrete structure (the footing, the wall and the floor) is poured separately. There is a seam between each of these three structures. This allows the potential for water to come into the basement. There are four potential points of entry now: over the foundation footing, between the foundation walls, underneath the foundation and up through the seams between the foundation footing and the floor. This floor/wall joint seepage is very common and is a predominant reason for basement flooding.

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If you find that there is mold growing in your home from a wet or damp basement, you need to act fast in order to remove it. However, if you have a mold problem that covers more than a 10-foot by 10-foot area, consider calling a professional.

When dealing with mold removal, be careful, once mold is disturbed it will release mold spores that can cause additional growth, or those spores can lead to health problems.

The first phase of work will be to completely remove drywall and carpet and all other “non permanent” affected items.  Also remove any furnishings that are carrying mold.  It is rare that these items can be saved once they have mold.

Once that is completed, it is time to clean the mold.  Use a cleaning product that is designed specifically for mold removal.  This will ensure that the spores have been killed, and the entire mold organism has been removed.  You must be very thorough, especially in wall and ceiling cavities. 

Remember that mold spores are often invisible.  So, even though the visible mold has been removed from surfaces, the spores could remain in the air for quite some time. It is very important to isolate the area where you have mold from the rest of the house because mold spores are designed to travel in the air until they can find a place to settle which is good for growth.  Mold spores need warmth, moisture, and a food source.  The food source can include wood, drywall, paper, fabrics and other typical household items. 

The next step is to eliminate the moisture and the food source.  The mold cleaning detergent needs to eliminate the food source from the washed surfaces but you also need to lower the humidity levels in the area.  The temperature in the space should be higher than normal because this will promote faster drying.  Be sure to close any windows or doors to the outside as well, so that humidity from the outdoors cannot come in.

The basement or other affected area should have good airflow for several days, so use fans; but most importantly, be sure to have a dehumidifier in this space.  It should be a reliable, powerful unit that will remove moisture from the air into either into a reservoir or a hose running to a drain or sump pump.  With a moisture meter you can regularly check surfaces and materials for moisture content.  Once you are able to get walls and floors to 12% moisture content or less, mold growth can no longer be sustained.

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